“It’s a terrible and very disappointing report this morning,” Mr. Romney said in an interview with Fox & Friends Friday morning. “We seem to be slowing down not speeding up. This is not progress.”

Unemployment ticked down to 8.1% in April from 8.2%, the Labor Department said Friday. But job growth slowed: The economy added just 115,000 new jobs in April, renewing concerns that the U.S. could be headed for its third-straight summer slowdown. The state of the U.S. economy is sure to remain a central argument in the fall election as both President Barack Obama and Mr. Romney try to shape voters’ views about economic conditions.

Mr. Romney said the economy should be experiencing growth of around 500,000 jobs a month after such a deep economic downturn. “The president’s policies have simply not worked,” he said.

About Washington Wire

Washington Wire is one of the oldest standing features in American journalism. Since the Wire launched on Sept. 20, 1940, the Journal has offered readers an informal look at the capital. Now online, the Wire provides a succession of glimpses at what’s happening behind hot stories and warnings of what to watch for in the days ahead. The Wire is led by Reid J. Epstein, with contributions from the rest of the bureau. Washington Wire now also includes Think Tank, our home for outside analysis from policy and political thinkers.